Chopper flights with doors open, tight restraints grounded

In this March 12, 2018, file photo, a helicopter is hoisted by crane from the East River onto a barge in New York after a Sunday night crash. The crash is prompting regulators to temporarily ground “doors off” flights using tight restraints that could trap people in an emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the ban on Friday amid concerns such harnesses prevented passengers from escaping. Five people were killed. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Published March 17. 2018 1:01AM | Updated March 17. 2018 1:34AM

NEW YORK (AP) — A deadly New York City helicopter crash has prompted regulators to temporarily ground flights that have the doors open and that use tight seat restraints that could trap people in emergencies.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the ban Friday amid concerns such harnesses prevented passengers from escaping when their helicopter plunged into the East River on Sunday, killing five people.

The FAA says the ban applies to helicopters that fly with doors open, often so passengers can take pictures, and use harnesses that can't be quickly released. The agency says the flights must stay grounded until the restraints are fixed.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro says divers had to cut passengers out of their harnesses. The parents of one crash victim call the harnesses a "death trap."